The Value of Employer Reimbursement in Art Education

#Articles #Artistic & Personal Growth #Career Talk

From date night to a piggyback competition with your friend William, the question of “who’s picking up the Bill” can be awkward and confusing. But when it comes to your art education tuition, there is a strong argument that your employer should pay. And since over 35% of CGMA students receive tuition reimbursements from their employers, we've seen just how valuable this assistance can be.

From the artist’s perspective, employer reimbursement may seem too good to be true. However, when a studio or entertainment company supports their employees’ education, everyone benefits. Read on to learn the value of employer reimbursement, including:

For Individuals

Self-Growth
Encouragement of Curiosity
Feeling Valued

For Employers

High-Quality Work
Staff Satisfaction
Tax Breaks

How to Ask for Employer Reimbursement

Using an Existing Program
Creating a New Program

Art by Shawn Tilton in The Art of Color and Light.

For Individuals

Let’s start with the obvious: it rocks to earn your education without spending a huge chunk of change. But it’s more than simply getting something for free. For example…

1. Self-Growth

Whether you’re taking a course or earning a degree, education helps you reach your full potential. It enables you to take on challenging and exciting projects, meet artists who provide different perspectives, or even learn an entirely new skill. This can make you more successful at your current job, help you get a promotion, or even guide a transition to another role or department within your workplace.

Art by Reem Alshatti in Digital Painting.

Read “How to Navigate Employment Changes in the Entertainment Industry” for tips on how to find stability in your position.

2. Encouragement of Curiosity

Curiosity is basically rocket fuel for artistic passion. Every cool project starts with a “what if…” But let’s face it, it can be draining to come home from a long day of creative work and motivate yourself to watch a new tutorial or try out new software. That’s why employer reimbursement is so important. It lets you know your employers understand and encourage continual learning. So much so, that they’re willing to put their money where their mouth is!

Art by Daniella Tran Van in The Art of Color and Light.

3. Feeling Valued

When your employer makes it clear they want to invest in your growth and passion, it’s because they value what you bring to the table. And this can be more important than many of us realize. A survey from the American Psychological Association found that feeling valued at work to better physical and mental health!

Art by Kimi Maekawa in Composition for Concept Art and Illustration.

Read “6 Practical Business Lessons For Freelance Artists” if you’re looking for industry insights as a contract worker.

For Employers

To an artist, employer reimbursement may seem too good to be true. Someone else is going to pay for your education? However, every employer knows that it’s completely worth it, for reasons including:

1. High-Quality Work

When the goal is to produce the best work, it’s important that a company gives its artists as many resources as possible. This includes the chance to sharpen old skills, learn new techniques, and take on the newest software or engines.

If a studio is full of artists who are reaching their full potential by strengthening and growing their skills, the final product will also reach its full potential!

Konstantinos Chtenelis in Character Creation for Film Cinematics.

2. Staff Satisfaction

When employers put effort into making their employees feel valued, it’s not just for the sake of creating a good work environment (although that is a great place to start). The same American Psychological Association mentioned above found that employees who feel valued by their workplace have higher levels of engagement, satisfaction, and motivation. This means you’ll actually work harder when you feel supported!

Art by Seven Jones in Character Design for Production.

Plus, you’re less likely to look for another job (76% of employees said they are more likely to stay with their employer because of its employer reimbursement benefit). This increases employee retention and reduces recruitment costs for the company. In the end, paying for your tuition can actually be a smart financial move from the company’s perspective.

Read “3 Reasons You Should Rethink a College Degree as an Artist” to learn about various education paths.

3. Tax Breaks

You might be thinking, how is it feasible for my studio to benefit from sending me back to school? Well, there is an extra financial incentive besides producing the best product and minimizing recruitment costs: tax breaks. As of 2021, money spent on tuition or other education expenses for employees is tax-deductible up to $5,250 per employee each year. At the end of the day, if your employer isn’t paying for your tuition, it’s their loss!

Art by Justin Finkelman in Creating Stylized Game Assets.

How to Ask for Employer Reimbursement

Believe it or not, most U.S. employers offer some kind of employer reimbursement. In fact, it’s a whopping 92%, according to a survey from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. And the entertainment art industry is no exception! Companies that invest in their employees’ growth through CGMA include: Disney, Ubisoft, EA, Dreamworks, Riot Games, Blizzard, Guerrilla Games, Google, Cartoon Network, FOX, Marvel Animation, Nickelodeon, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Warner Brothers, and more! So here is how to take advantage of your employer's tuition assistance.

First off, here are some important questions to ask:

What kinds of programs/subject matter are you willing to cover?
Are there limitations on geographical location/institutions?
What is the approval process like to sign off on employer reimbursement?
Will I need to maintain certain grades?
How does reimbursement happen? (Could pay institution directly or reimburse you after the program)
Do I have to commit to staying with the studio after I am reimbursed?
Are there any deadlines?

Art by Laura Domenech in The Art of Color and Light.

If your company doesn’t have a tuition assistance program in place, you can still suggest they create one! Before you present your case, make sure you have some research to show how employer reimbursement will benefit both of you (feel free to use an article like this one!). It’s also a good idea to know (approximately) the type of program you’re looking for.

Tuition assistance fundamentally promotes learning, creativity, curiosity, and passion. All the financial benefits stem from the fact that people thrive when they continue to grow. So whether you’re an artist or an employer, don’t stay stagnant. Strive for more.

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